Joe Marler’s farewell game for Harlequins ended in a comprehensive defeat as Bristol Bears ran out 48-24 winners at a packed Twickenham Stoop on Friday.
In a stunning attacking performance, the Bears grabbed tries through Kalaveti Ravouvou, Gabriel Ibitoye, Kieran Marmion, Viliame Mata, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Santiago Grondona, with AJ MacGinty adding six conversions and two penalties on the night.
Alex Dombrandt, Cadan Murley, Luke Northmore and Tyrone Green went over for Harlequins, who were saying goodbye to a Premiership and club legend in Marler.
It was a lung-busting opening period at the Stoop as Harlequins and Bristol put on a show, with the tempo difficult to believe as there were precious few stoppages in play.
A whopping six tries were scored – three apiece for each outfit – as they came out of the traps looking to play, with both teams putting their fitness to the test from the off.
Harlequins got the ball rolling with a try after four minutes when Jarrod Evans slipped a tackle in the 22 before finding Dombrandt on his inside for an unconverted try.
However, Bristol responded well and despite enjoying plenty of possession in the opposition red zone it was a quickly taken lineout in their own 22 that brought about their first score as they eventually went right to left where Ravouvou crossed. MacGinty added the conversion to move his side 7-5 in front on 14 minutes.
Bristol extended their buffer to 12 points four minutes later when Marmion sniped on the fringe of a ruck before putting man of the match Ibiyoye in for a run to the line.
But just as the Bears looked to be moving further ahead from an attacking position in the Quins 22, Marmion’s pass was snaffled by Murley who cantered over for 14-12.
It was a much-needed score for Harlequins as it turned the game on its head and things got even better for the home side when Northmore pounced at ruck time before racing to the line himself. That made it 17-14 to Quins but Bristol replied on the stroke of half-time when Joe Owen and Ibitoye set Marmion up for a try.
The second half was all Bristol though as they looked to strike early, doing just that when slick hands from a tap penalty saw Mata dive over after Simon Kerrod’s yellow card.
MacGinty kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty soon after before Van Rensburg traded passes with Jake Bates before getting over for a well deserved try of his own.
38-17 soon become 45-17 on 56 minutes when lovely handling led to flanker Grondona dotting down on the left wing, with Harlequins being ripped apart by the lethal Bears.
The hosts did manage to strike back on 64 minutes when Green didn’t give up on a loose ball before fighting to ground it over the line, but it was a consolation score, with MacGinty knocking over a penalty with seven minutes to play to wrap up a comfortable win.
Newcastle end 15-year wait against Saracens
Elsewhere on Friday night, Newcastle Falcons claimed their first victory over Saracens in 15 years when they overcame their mighty visitors 17-12 at a jubilant Kingston Park.
Crossings from Alex Hearle and Adam Radwan were added to by Brett Connon’s two conversions and a penalty goal as the Falcons claimed a famous win at their home patch.
For Saracens this result will sting as they lose ground on current Premiership leaders Bristol Bears, with Tobias Elliot and Tom Willis scoring their tries in this shock defeat.
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